BasketNews Talks

EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas delves into the future of the competition, addresses concerns about Maccabi’s situation, evaluates Partizan’s and Zvezda’s case for long-term licenses, weighs in on Dubai’s potential entry, and discusses other crucial topics. Topics: Motiejunas’ reaction to viral Belgrade video (0:00); US feedback on ESPN deal (2:32); Serbian teams for long-term license (3:08); Major criteria for EuroLeague entry (6:56); Dubai team’s potential entry next season (9:14); Introduction of “salary cap” (14:01); Addressing game schedule clashes (16:11); Concerns over Maccabi in playoffs & Final 4 (21:02); Motiejunas’ time-saving life hacks (24:34); Top priorities on Motiejunas’ agenda (26:07); The main reason behind ‘poor officiating’ (29:52); How Motiejunas united the EuroLeague (35:21); Likelihood of EuroLeague having an All-Star Game (36:50); Challenges with visiting fans in EuroLeague (38:36); Motiejunas on Zalgiris’ changes and playoff hopes (39:34).

In the latest episode of BN Talks, current Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and former Denver Nuggets guard Markus Howard ranks the top five most challenging basketball leagues to score. He also shares valuable insights he’s learned from players like Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Facundo Campazzo. Topics: Ranking the NBA among 5 most difficult leagues to score in (0:00) Explaining to the Baskonia coach what makes a good or bad shot (2:30); The Top 3 EuroLeague scorers (4:00); How the NCAA star who’s scored 50 feels on the plane to Europe (4:34); The best lesson from Michael Porter JR (7:50); The best and worst of Nikola Jokic (9:03); The most difficult EuroLeague team to beat (10:07); Facing Red Star with Facundo Campazzo (11:43); What made Baskonia special (12:30).

In the latest episode of BN Talks, Donatas Urbonas is joined by 2-time EuroLeague champion & current FC Barcelona guard Cory Higgins. Cory talks about his relationship with Michael Jordan & why he does not use social media. Topics: The most overlooked EuroLeague players (00:00);  Michael Jordan’s message after an iconic shot (2:50); Learning from the worst NBA season ever (4:29); NBA offers that Higgins has passed (5:35); Bringing Michael Jordan to the EuroLeague game (6:20); Higgins’ dad’s experience in Olympiacos (7:20);  Higgins’ post-career plans (8:18);  How the most difficult season turned into the great experience (10:10); What fans are overlooking about reshaped Barcelona (14:29); Relationship with Jasikevicius and Itoudis (16:00); The reason why Higgins was signed to EuroLeague (17:44); Why you’ll never see Higgins on social media (20:57); Stopping one of the greatest teams in EuroLeague history (22:48).

In an exclusive interview with BasketNews, EuroLeague CEO Marshall Glickman shared the league’s future plans, and discussed the reasoning behind the ban of Crvena Zvezda and the situation with Facundo Campazzo. Topics: The inbox & WhatsApp chat history after controversial events (00:00); Why Glickman didn’t lift the ban for Crvena Zvezda (4:38); Reaction to the famous Doncic quote (10:52); Keeping Wembanyama in the EuroLeague (14:44); Recovering the relationships with the NBA (19:02); Top expansion markets for the EuroLeague (23:15); Inevitable changes in EuroLeague format (25:25); The Final 4 future (29:05); Responding to ‘EuroLeague is killing basketball’ statement (30:38); Misconceptions about the Dubai market (33:39); Problem with EuroLeague games clashing (35:14); Glickman’s vision for EuroLeague players (36:42); The upcoming changes in EuroLeague viewing experience (40:17); How EuroLeague will look in 2026 (44:10).

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Olympiacos Pireus forward & EuroLeague star Sasha Vezenkov. Donatas & Sasha discuss his incredible ability to score off-ball, his personal & Olympiacos' growth through the last few years and his future regarding the NBA & Sacramento Kings. Topics: When Vezenkov is Aleksandar & when he’s Sasha (00:00); Reaction to 275 points in 26 dribbles (1:16); Top 3 off-ball EuroLeague players (4:17); If not Vezenkov, who’s the EuroLeague MVP (5:00); The moment when Vezenkov thought his time in Olympiacos was over (6:47); Rumors about Panathinaikos interest (10:05); How Olympiacos became the Final 4 team (11:01); Vezenkov’s reaction to Micic’s semifinal game-winner (12:16); Two things Vezenkov took from the career contract (14:24); Does the new contract puts Vezenkov away from the NBA (15:33); Where Vezenkov see Olympiacos until 2025 (17:33). 

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Fenerbahce Istanbul center Kostas Antetokounmpo. They discuss his unique quality among the Antetokounbros, painful EuroBasket loss, Panathinaikos & Olympiacos rumors, and misconception about Giannis’ favorite Greek team. Topics: Kostas’ unique quality among the Antetokounbros (00:00); Where Kostas is better than Giannis (2:22); Antetokounbros’ reaction to a painful EuroBasket loss (3:13); Is it easier to score for a big man in the NBA or EuroLeague? (5:34); Antetokounbros vs. Holidays in a 3x3 game (6:28); If Kostas came close to joining Panathinaikos & Olympiacos (8:01); EuroLeague role model for Kostas (11:11); Misconception about Giannis’ favorite Greek team (13:46); What Giannis, Luka & LeBron have in common (14:18); Lakers’ championship as an example for Fenerbahce (15:41).

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Bayern Munich head coach Andrea Trinchieri. They discusses the changes needed in European basketball, potential format ideas that would benefit all parties, coaching Allen Iverson, overachieving, and why we lost control of Twitter. Topics: Challenging utopia for EuroLeague coaches (00:00); What will ruin the EuroLeague (8:20); The best format for EuroLeague and FIBA (13:20); The misconception about great coaches losing (22:38); How Trinchieri would coach Allen Iverson (27:27); When Trinchieri starts looking at standings (33:56); Dealing with the great enemy that can mess your life (37:40); What Trinchieri would change on Twitter (44:28).

BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas interviews Real Madrid center Edy Tavares. They discuss Tavares’ NBA comparison, a hypothetical phone call with Facundo Campazzo, Victor Wembanyama, and one game he would show to Cape Verdean kids. Topics: Favorite Tavares football jersey (00:00); The biggest football fan in Real basketball team (00:51); Decisive phone conversation with Facundo Campazzo (2:00); What 7-foot-3 Tavares loves about 7-foot-3 Wembanyama (3:35); Tavares comparison in the NBA (5:31); Why centers don’t win the EuroLeague MVP (7:53); Madrid will win the EuroLeague IF… (9:12) The game he would show for Cape Verde kids (9:25).

Panathinaikos Athens star Derrick Williams sits down with Donatas Urbonas to discuss how challenging EuroLeague game is even for the top NBA draft picks, which EuroLeague players could succeed in the NBA, and where he wished to get drafted in the 2011 NBA draft. Topics: How European fans surprised Derrick Williams (00:00); Why top NBA draft picks couldn’t make it in Europe (5:12); Advice for the NBA players coming to Europe (8:13); NBA friends asking about Europe (9:06); How DWill would invite Carmelo to Panathinaikos (11:07); EuroLeague stars that could succeed in the NBA (12:50); Pairing up Zeljko & LeBron in the NBA (14:30); Derrick Williams redrafts the 2011 NBA draft (16:54); NBA rule in Europe & EuroLeague rule in the NBA (21:25); What separates Panathinaikos from making the Top 8 (24:45); Gudaitis’ sacrifice in Panathinaikos (27:35). Derrick Williams’ goal in Europe (29:19).

Fenerbahce Istanbul head coach Dimitris Itoudis sits down with Donatas Urbonas for a discussion about FIBA’s problematic schedule, EuroBasket superstars, coaching Giannis and the fresh start with Fenerbahce. Topics: A hilarious press conference that raised a serious question (00:00); Itoudis raising uncomfortable questions to FIBA (3:31); An inspiring moment with Thanassis after a painful loss (11:15); Coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo (17:15); Why Jokic, Doncic or Giannis don’t guarantee a title (22:47); Fresh start with Fenerbahce (27:45); Free agency answers you don’t want to hear as Fener’s coach; Itoudis belief in Panathinaikos (35:35).